PORT CLINTON – Although rain, wind and cold hurt attendance at Port Clinton's Ohio Bike Week events, the city still benefited from motorcyclists who drove into town throughout the 12-day motorcycle festival, officials said.

Ohio Bike Week was May 27 through Sunday. It was based in Sandusky, and events included concerts and motorcycle tours, including a trip to Put-in-Bay.

"They want to get on their bikes and ride and tour throughout the region," said Larry Fletcher, Lake Erie Shores and Islands executive director. "It brings people into the area that may never have been here before."

Port Clinton also brought back Hogs by the Lake — a bike rally that took place in the fall years ago and featured bands, food and drinks — and made it part of bike week. Hogs by the Lake was May 29 to 31 on Madison Street.

Throughout bike week, motorcyclists also drove through Ottawa County, and some visited local restaurants and businesses. Hotels in Sandusky along U.S. 250 were full, Fletcher said.

"People are looking farther out," Fletcher said of finding hotels. "They're going over the bridge to Port Clinton and Marblehead."

Hogs by the Lake started off well, Mayor Vince Leone said. Then bad weather set in on May 30, and lightning caused one of the bands to have to leave the stage.

"I think Friday night was hugely successful," Leone said of the first night of the event. "The weather really decides if it's going to be huge or not so good.

"We're looking forward to doing it again next year. I think we broke even, which was a major plus."

Leone said this was an inaugural event and that it was a learning experience for the organizers. They hope to improve on it next year, he said.

Aside from the bad weather during the first weekend of bike week, weather had been good and helped bring a good overall turnout, Fletcher said. For the first time in the event's history, bike week all-access passes to all events were sold out, he said.